BBC Click turns spotlight on Indian tech
It's part of India Direct airing in March on BBC World News and BBC.com; industry event with Spencer Kelly to take place on January 30 in Bengaluru
To mark a new season of India-focused programmes, BBC World News and BBC.com are hosting a special event with leading tech journalist and BBC Click presenter Spencer Kelly.
Kelly is in Bengaluru, covering the latest in Indian technology for two special episodes of the BBC show Click, to be aired as part of the BBC’s international news channel’s India Direct season, broadcasting in March.
The live event, taking place on January 30, at the city’s Oberoi Hotel, recognises India’s fast growing technology sector with Kelly and an invited audience exploring how technology can help solve some of the country’s biggest challenges.
The India Direct season puts all aspects of the world’s largest democracy under the spotlight, making stories available to audiences around the world on the international news operation’s award winning platforms.
Through programmes like Click, The Travel Show, Working Lives, and Witness, Country Direct seasons see the BBC's unrivalled network of journalists explore the issues faced by a country and its people – from the economic opportunities and challenges to living life at every level of society, from its traditions and history to future plans and innovations.
For Click’s India Direct two-part special, Kelly and the team travel across the country to discover the technology that is powering India’s rise, as well asking how technology can help solve some of the country’s biggest challenges. Stories will include:
- A behind the scenes look at the 'Uber of India' – Ola Cabs – exploring the technology behind the operation and how they are competing with the increasing numbers of international players
- Space – the team talk to Team Indus, the only Indian startup competing for the Google Lunar XPRIZE - a competition to be the first commercial company to put a rover on the moon
- Health care - a look at a low cost breast cancer scanning device being used in Mumbai hospitals, which promises to improve diagnosis rates and times.
The India Direct season will be primarily broadcast across two weekends March 18-19 and March 25-26 with online content starting from March 13. Alongside, Click the season will include:
The Travel Show (two episodes)
Rajan Datar explores the ‘hidden’ India for two special episodes of The Travel Show. Datar leaves behind the big cities and major tourist attractions to embark on a unique journey across the heart of the country – which few tourists are lucky enough to explore. The team tracks the changing face of India against a backdrop of unchanging natural wonders and cross the entire sub-continent - from Gujarat in the west to Assam in the east - along one of the longest railway lines in the country. Rajan examines the historical sites, natural wonders and hidden gems along the way.
Working Lives: Mumbai
BBC Business reporter Yogita Limaye explores the financial, commercial and entertainment capital of India for this special edition of Working Lives. Mumbai resident, Limaye, follows five people working in different sectors, from film to high finance to street selling, who all earn their living in this vibrant metropolis.
Witness
In this special edition of Witness, Yogita Limaye examines five extraordinary moments in Indian history. Limaye meets the first Indian man to win a gold medal at a major athletics championship and the woman who brought the first ever sexual harassment case to court in the country’s history. The team also explores the building of a brand new capital of Punjab in the wake of partition.
There is also additional content in the run up to the season. The channel is broadcasting Rick Stein’s India – a 12 part series which sees Chef Rick Stein embark on a culinary journey through the Indian sub-continent to discover dishes, ingredients and spices celebrated the world over. BBC’s South Asia Correspondent Justin Rowlatt will be presenting a special edition of the World News documentary programme Our World to be broadcast in mid-February. Plus throughout the season join Global with Matthew Amroliwala – the weekday daily news and current affairs show –for additional stories and content from the region.
India Direct on BBC.com
There will be a dedicated index for India Direct on BBC.com, which will include a raft of original content as well as highlights from across the season. This includes a new digital series, India’s Firsts, which examines the key pioneers in modern India who have helped to transform the country and In Pictures - the best images submitted by viewers.
Transmission Times (all in IST):
Click
Episode One
Sat 18th March 12noon
Sun 19th March 0900, 1900
Thu 23rd March 1430
Episode Two
Sat 25th March 12noon
Sun 26th March 0900, 1900
Thu 30th March 1430
The Travel Show (two episodes)
Episode One
Sat 18th March 0900, 1900
Sun 19th March 12noon
Wed 22nd March 1430
Thu 23rd March 0900
Tue 28th March 0900
Episode Two
Sat 25th March 0900, 1900
Sun 26th March 12noon
Wed 29th March 1430
Thu 30th March 0900
Working Lives: Mumbai
Fri 17th March 2100
Sat 18th March 0600
Sun 19th March 1100, 1800
Mon 20th March 1430
Witness
Sat 18th March 2300
Sun 19th March 1000, 1600
Thu 23rd March 1600
Rick Stein’s India
12 episodes broadcast every Saturday (at 0800, 1400), then repeated on Sundays (2000) and Tuesdays (1600) until April.
